Archive for the year 2009
The Many Meanings of “Oireachtas” Posted by róislín on Apr 18, 2009
(le Róislín) For the week of April 5 to 12, 2009, many Philadelphians probably saw more samples of the Irish language in the media than ever before in the city’s history. Why? This year, Philadelphia hosted the first Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Irish Dance Championship) to be held outside Ireland or the U.K. Over 6000…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a hAon: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Scotland and the Scots Posted by róislín on Apr 15, 2009
We recently saw “Albain” (Scotland) as one of Transparent Language’s Word of the Day features. This is based on the word “Alba,” which is what the Scots call their country in their own Celtic language, Gàidhlig. Why not a word that sounds something like “Scotland” (like Italian “Scòzia” or French “Ecosse” or German “Schottland”)? …
An Cháisc (Easter) is a Cognate of … Pascha and Pesach Posted by róislín on Apr 12, 2009
(le Róislín) It may seem straightforward enough that Pascha (Latin for Easter) and Pesach (Passover) are linguistically related to each other. Several of the other Celtic words for Easter are also clearly connected, Y Pasg (Welsh), Pask (Cornish, Breton), as are the English adjective, Paschal, and the Romance words, Pâques, Pascua, and Pasqua. Their connection…
Mór? Críonna? or Sean? — Grandparents By Any Other Name! Posted by róislín on Apr 9, 2009
(le Róislín) I frequently get asked about the Irish word for “grandmother” or “grandma,” so children in Irish-American families can start using it as a pet name. Sometimes the basic term “Grandma” has already been taken by one side of the family, so the other side may look for a different name, like “Nana” in…
Clever, “Cute,” Smart, Intelligent, Wise, and/or Cunning – as Gaeilge! Posted by róislín on Apr 6, 2009
(le Róislín) We’ve recently discussed fools in general in the April 1st and 3rd blogs. We’ve differentiated amadáin from óinseacha and worked gámaithe, gamail, gamalóga, agus gamaraill into the mix. Now lets segue to “wise fools” and then to various terms for being clever, “cute,” smart, intelligent, wise and/or cunning. Wise fools, first. …
Na hAmadáin (ar leanúint) – The Fools (continued) Posted by róislín on Apr 3, 2009
(le Róislín) By now you might be wondering, so what is the Irish word for a female fool? You might have encountered it already, if you’ve read Charles Kickham’s 1879 novel, Knocknagow, which uses an anglicized form of the word, “oonshugh.” English-medium Irish literature of that vintage tends to be full of Irish words, but…
Lá na nAmadán – The Day of the Fools (April 1) Posted by róislín on Apr 1, 2009
(le Róislín) As promised in the blog of an t-aonú lá is fiche de mhí an Mhárta (March 21st), we will honor Lá na nAmadán with an assortment of terms for fools. Be advised – it may take more than one blog to get through this! The most widely used term is “amadán,” although in…